United Airlines is the only US carrier to operate a nonstop flight to India.
Air India has announced that it will fly direct flight connecting the capitals of India and the US starting from July.
According to an announcement made by Air India, the non-stop flight between Washington and Delhi will take off three times a week on the Boing 777. The Indian carrier also announced that it will commence a direct flight between Delhi and Copenhagen starting from May using a Dreamliner.
Commencing of the direct flight to Washington has strengthened the reach of Air India in North America, as it already has nonstop flights to New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco. It also has a one-stop flight to New York from Ahmedabad via London.
Direct flights to North America are most preferred by Indians despite the premium cost as it cuts down the travel time. Last year, Air India and Air Canada had launched a few direct flight services. Air Canada has already announced that in addition to the Delhi-Toronto non-stop flight, which was launched in November, it will add another direct flight linking Mumbai and Toronto by early July.
Both Air India and Air Canada take the Pacific route for their nonstop flights that connect cities such as San Francisco and Vancouver. The direct Air India flight operating between Delhi and San Francisco is the longest flight in the world when it comes to the distance covered.
Air Canada has also announced that it will operate a “seasonal” Delhi-Vancouver flight till April 8, 2017, and the service will be resumed later in October 2017.
American Airlines had flown a direct flight to Delhi before it filed for bankruptcy. According to reports, American Airlines is currently planning to restart the direct flight to India that it stopped in 2012.
United Airlines is the only US carrier to operate a nonstop flight to India connecting New York’s (technically New Jersey’s) Newark airport and Mumbai.
The announcement about the new direct flight connecting Washington was made along with a slew of other announcements such as new flights linking Bangkok with Kolkata and Chandigarh, as well as an increase in the frequency of flights from Delhi to Port Blair, Ahmedabad and Leh.
By starting a direct flight to Copenhagen, Air India will expand its direct flights connectivity to European countries. Currently, the national career connects several cities directly, including London and Birmingham in the UK; Madrid, Paris, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, and Vienna.